Can Vitamin E Impact Eyesight?

Sunflower seeds are a natural source of vitamin E.

Although it isn't common to be severely deficient in vitamin E in the United States, many Americans are slightly deficient in this vitamin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Not getting enough vitamin E in your diet can lead to muscle weakness, difficulty walking, liver and kidney damage and vision problems. As an antioxidant, vitamin E helps stop cell damage from free radicals, including damage to your eyes.

Retina Damage

The colored part of your eye, the retina, helps prevent cell damage from ultraviolet, or UV, light. Although evidence is conflicting, vitamin E may make diabetic retinopathy, a type of blood vessel damage to the retina caused by chronically high blood sugar levels, less likely, according to MayoClinic.com.

Cataracts

Vitamin E may also help prevent cataracts, according to Gary Heiting, OD, although it may take up to 10 years to experience these benefits and not all studies have shown vitamin E supplementation to be beneficial for this purpose. A study published in "Archives of Ophthalmology" in January 2008 found that those with the highest intakes of vitamin E from foods and supplements had a 14 percent lower risk of cataracts than those with the lowest intakes. However, another study published in the same journal in 2010 found that taking 400 international units of supplemental vitamin E for eight years didn't lower cataract risk.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Conflicting evidence exists with regard to the benefits of vitamin E in preventing age-related macular degeneration. A study published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in June 2008 found that higher intakes of a combination of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and beta-carotene, decreased the risk of age-related macular degeneration, while another study, published in "Ophthalmology" in June 2010, found that taking 600 international units of vitamin E every other day for 10 years didn't increase or decrease the risk for this condition.

Considerations

It's better to get your vitamin E from foods than supplements, since foods provide additional nutrients. Good sources of vitamin E include nuts and seeds, avocados, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, liver, asparagus and sweet potatoes. Getting your vitamin E from foods also makes it less likely you will consume more than the tolerable upper intake level of 1,500 international units. Consuming too much vitamin E can cause you to have difficulty with blood clotting. Vitamin E can also interfere with certain medications, including beta-blockers, antidepressants, blood thinners and chemotherapy medications.